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I step between them before either one realizes what’s happening.
With a hand to his chest, I shove him back, and he crashes to the floor.
When she tries to step around me to see what’s happening, I reach back to stop her. Squeezing her hip, I wait to see how this dude reacts and if he’s going to reach for a weapon.
His eyes are less than focused one minute, then full of fear the next. “What did you do that for?” He sounds like a big kid. “That hurt.”
“Coop.” Carys tugs at my shirt. “I don’t think he was trying to hurt me.”
The guy runs a hand over the back of his head. “I just wanted to tell her she sounds pretty when she sings.”
Carys laces her fingers through mine and carefully moves around me. “Thank you.”
“Hey.” I’m not as forgiving as she is. “Don’t ever put your hands on a woman.”
He gets to his feet and backs away from us. “I’m sorry.”
We watch as he stumbles down the hall. Once he’s out of sight, she leans back against me, letting me take her weight.
I scoop her into my arms before she falls. “Is there a back door here?”
“I can walk, Cooper.” Her clammy skin and shaking body tell me otherwise before she points me toward the end of the hall.
We round a corner to an old metal door that dumps us in the back parking lot not far from my Jeep. I carry Carys to it and open the back gate, then set her down on it. Gently, I run my hands over her arms and down her sides, checking for injuries. The air outside sits heavy against our skin as a storm gathers in the distance.
“Are you hurt, baby? Did he hurt you?”
“No. He didn’t hurt me.” She crinkles her nose, causing the light dusting of freckles on it to bunch up. “I’m okay. He just scared me. I don’t think he realized what he was doing. He seemed like he just wanted to talk but had no clue that he was scaring me. Maybe he drank too much. Maybe he’s socially awkward. I don’t know. But I don’t think he was trying to attack me.”
“Baby.” I run my hands over her head and ghost my fingers across her face, needing to know for myself that she’s really okay. “Do not ever make an excuse for a man who doesn’t know to keep his fucking hands to himself. That is never okay.” I hold her possessively in my arms and breathe her in as I try to get myself under control.
Thunder crashes in the distance as if it’s channeling the rage that courses through my body. It’s a living, breathing thing, threatening to explode if I don’t lock it down. “If something happened to you...” I leave the rest of the sentence unsaid, unwilling to think about the what-ifs. Instead, I focus on this woman. This moment.
Carys wraps her arms around my waist and runs her palms soothingly up my back, even though I’m supposed to be taking care ofher.
“Cooper...” Her breath warms my cheek.
I pull back and cup her face in my hands. Her eyes shine with unshed tears that I wish I could take away for her. Make it so she never knows fear. My thumb traces the curves of her face.
She closes her eyes, and those long lashes kiss her perfect skin as she slowly drags her teeth over her trembling lower lip and leans into my hand. Then on a whisper, her eyes open and she asks, “Do you want to kiss me, Cooper?”
“More than my next fucking breath, Carys.” I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted anything more. I fight the urge to crush my mouth to hers.
To take what I need.
What we both desperately want.
What I’ve wanted for fucking years.
Instead, I lean down slowly and brush my mouth over hers, groaning when her sweet taste explodes on my lips.
Carys moans, and electricity sparks between us. My cock twitches behind the zipper of my jeans before I slide one hand to the back of her head and gently tug her hair, then tilt her head as I deepen the kiss. My other hand grips her waist, dragging her closer.
Needing more.
Wanting everything.
Trailing my mouth along her jaw, I lick the salty sweat from her skin while she claws at my chest, trying to get closer.
